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thebiginterview A Tale From The Vicarage

MARTIN McCONACHIE ‘best memory’ isn’t a surprising SPEAKS TO SKY SPORTS one as he explained. “I was too NEWS PRESENTER young to remember the rise up through the divisions and most of AND WATFORD FAN the team had gone by the time I ADAM LEVENTHAL went to my first match in 1986. I remember standing on the terraces ollowing today’s visitors aged seven and not particularly Watford has never been taking to the Everton keeper dull. Let’s face it, any side Neville Southall. My dad wasn’t into that enjoys the astonishing football so I went with my granddad riseF through the Football League in those days.” is going to have some fantastic Adam’s media career has memories along the way. Three mirrored Watford’s on the field promotions in five seasons leading back then, fast and furious. Initially to a second place finish in what is starting behind the scenes at now the makes Capital Radio and after studying Yeovil’s ascent look positively broadcast journalism at Nottingham sluggish. But for Adam Leventhal, Trent University, the Hornets nut his favourite memory of watching then spent a year working on the his beloved Hornets comes from media side at Premier League just a few months ago. giants Arsenal. Then after joining “It has to be the play-off semi Sky Sports News in 2003 as a final second leg at home against reporter, he worked his way via a Leicester City,” the Sky Sports role as Sky’s cricket correspondent to today where he is one of News presenter confirms. “We And being close to the club he were a goal down from the first leg the sports news channels most recognisable faces. loves has also brought some fringe and heading out when Leicester benefits. A book called ‘Tales got a last minute penalty. I was From The Vicarage’, containing a in the ground and surrounded collection of stories from Watford’s by complete resignation. Then media fans, was produced and missed the subsequently sold out, leading to a spot kick and 20 seconds later, second volume released recently. Troy Deeney scored at the other In the first book, Adam’s piece end to put us into the final. It was on Brendan Rodgers and Malky astounding, there was absolute Mackay entitled ‘A Question Of delirium.” Loyalty’ was a fascinating look at Although Watford went on to two managers who cut their teeth at lose at Wembley, Adam’s choice of DAY JOB: Adam on Sky Sports News

34|green&white interview treatment with the likes of , , Danny Graham and modern day hot shot Troy Deeney all under the microscope. Speaking from personal experience, it will be a labour of love for him, for sure. Being able to look back through 27 seasons of following your club and being able to write about it is a quality feeling. So apart from that brief moment in time last May, what other top memories does Adam have? “Obviously both play-off final victories stand out, probably because we weren’t expected to win either game. Against Bolton at Wembley, they were the bigger club and at Cardiff against Leeds United, again they were more fashionable and had the richer history yet we won again.” As far as bad times go, it’s not been that bad compared to some teams. “We had some barren years in the 1990’s of course and obviously the play-off final last season against Crystal Palace. But with the new owners wanting to stay in the background, and I believe they have the best interest of the club at heart, the future looks bright. “I watched the first training session taken by and I can see he won’t be the sort to stand there with his arms crossed. He was getting in there amongst . And Adam’s quick Volume 2 of the book sees Adam the players.” to praise the present Liverpool look at the art of goal scoring He’s quick to praise the Glovers manager despite his short tenure at and those who get paid for it. The today too. “The vibe that I get is that Watford. Hornets have seen some great your club is run in the right way “Brendan wasn’t there long strikers paraded at Vicarage and that the club and the fans are enough to really get the team Road and they get the Leventhal together, united in the right way. If playing in his style. It was a shame one day you ever got to the Premier that he left so quick; we were lucky “I WATCHED THE FIRST League, that would be sensational.” to have him and he was beginning TRAINING SESSION Although football has changed to show that he is going to be a TAKEN BY GIUSEPPE so much since Watford’s meteoric top manager. I also interviewed SANNINO AND I CAN SEE rise through the Football League, Malky and he stuck with us when HE WON’T BE THE SORT Yeovil’s steadier climb proves that we were on the brink of going into TO STAND THERE WITH in football, nothing is impossible. ■ administration.” HIS ARMS CROSSED”

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